Alignment apparatus, system, and method for aligning the beam propagation direction

Abstract

In an alignment device (10) for aligning the beam propagation direction (420) of a beam generation unit (400) with respect to the alignment axis (12) of the alignment device (10), the beam generation unit (400) is attachable to the alignment device (10), and the alignment device (10) includes at least four cylindrical housings (20 1…n ) having different shapes and inserted into each other. Here, - each cylindrical housing (20 1…n ) includes an outer surface (22 1…n ) surrounding its respective cylindrical axis (21 1…n ) and an inner cavity (23 1…n ) surrounding its respective cavity axis (24 1…n ), the inner cavity (23 1…n ) extending through each of the respective cylindrical housings (20 1…n ); each of the inner cavities (23 1…n ) of the cylindrical housings (20 1…n ) other than the smallest one is cylindrical; each of the outer surfaces (22 1…n ) of the cylindrical housings (20 1…n ) other than the largest one is cylindrical, and each of the inner cavities (23 1…n ) of the adjacent cylindrical housings (20 1…n ) is at least partially rotatably disposed; the inner cavity (23 n ) of the smallest one (20 n ) of the cylindrical housings is configured to at least partially receive the beam generation unit (400); the cavity axis (24 1…n ) of each cylindrical housing (20 1…n ) is at an alignment angle (25 1…n ) greater than 0° and / or is eccentrically disposed with respect to the cylindrical axis (21 1…n ) of each of the respective cylindrical housings (20 1…n ); the alignment axis (12) of the alignment device (10) coincides with the cylindrical axis of the largest one (201) of the cylindrical housings.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an alignment device for aligning the beam propagation direction of a beam generation unit with respect to the alignment axis of an alignment device, a system for aiming a beam at a predetermined point on a target object at a predetermined angle, and a method for aligning the beam propagation direction with respect to the alignment axis of an alignment device. [Background technology]

[0002] In an evanescent field leader, a directional laser beam is used to aim the laser beam at a predetermined target point on a target object at a predetermined angle. Here, the propagation direction of the laser beam must be precisely fixed and adjusted relative to the position of the target object. Such an evanescent field leader, which uses a laser beam to illuminate a target point on a probe-filled cuvette at a predetermined angle, is an example of a beam apparatus, also referred to as a beam system in the following description. Similar beam systems are based on, for example, a photon source, neutron source, ion source, or other electromagnetic source, instead of using a laser.

[0003] In such beam systems, the beam source is often located in the standard beam housing of a beam generation unit, for example, in the standard laser housing of a laser. The beam generation unit is often detachable from the beam system, for example, to allow for replacement of the beam generation unit. The beam generation unit emits a beam from the beam housing in the beam propagation direction. However, the beam propagation direction of a particular beam generation unit is often slightly offset from the central axis of the beam housing. This offset may include angular and / or translational offsets.

[0004] Therefore, when assembling or replacing the beam generation unit of a beam system, it is usually necessary to align the beam propagation direction of the beam generation unit using the beam system's adjustment unit. Depending on the beam system, the adjustment unit may also be able to adjust the beam propagation direction relative to the target point.

[0005] Reference US 6,178,649 B1 describes an optical calibration device. The optical calibration device comprises a laser illuminator positioned in an eccentric adjustment sleeve, an inner tilt adjustment sleeve inside the jacket, and an outer tilt adjustment sleeve outside the jacket. In a cylindrical casing, a laser line is emitted by the illuminator. The emitted laser line is calibrated horizontally or vertically by rotating the eccentric adjustment sleeve, the inner tilt adjustment sleeve, and the outer tilt adjustment sleeve until the emitted laser line is aligned with a standard laser line emitted from a standard optical calibrator, or with a mark set by a standard instrument.

[0006] Document US2005 / 194366 A1 describes an optical marking apparatus. The optical marking apparatus has a laser illuminator mounted in a housing for emitting a laser optical line for marking purposes. An angle-changing device is provided in the housing. When the apparatus is rotated angularly, the laser illuminator emits a laser line outward. Since the laser line corresponds to the rotation angle of the apparatus, an angle-adjustable laser line for angled marking is generated.

[0007] In typical evanescent field leaders, adjustment units can be used to adjust the yaw angle, pitch, horizontal deviation, and vertical deviation in the beam propagation direction. However, known adjustment units are often large, cumbersome to operate, and / or not sufficiently precise. [Overview of the project]

[0008] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to improve the alignment of the beam propagation direction of the beam generation unit, specifically to simplify alignment and / or enable cost-effective alignment.

[0009] This problem is solved by the subject matter of the independent claim. Preferred embodiments constitute the subject matter of the dependent claim.

[0010] One embodiment for solving this problem is an alignment device for aligning the beam propagation direction of a beam generation unit with respect to the alignment axis of an alignment device, wherein the beam generation unit is mountable to the alignment device, and the alignment device comprises at least four cylindrical housings of different shapes that are inserted into each other. - Each cylindrical housing comprises an outer surface surrounding its respective cylindrical axis and an inner cavity surrounding its respective cylindrical axis, the inner cavity extending through each of the cylindrical housings, - Each of the inner lumens of the cylindrical housings, except for the smallest one, is cylindrical. - Each of the cylindrical housings, except for the largest one, has an outer surface that is cylindrical and is at least partially rotatably positioned within the cavity of an adjacent cylindrical housing. - The inner lumen of the smallest of the cylindrical housings is configured to at least partially receive the beam generation unit, - The bore axis of each cylindrical housing is positioned at an alignment angle greater than 0° and / or eccentrically with respect to the cylindrical axis of each cylindrical housing. - The alignment axis of the alignment device coincides with the cylindrical axis of the largest of the cylindrical housings. Regarding alignment devices.

[0011] The alignment device may be provided as a module of the beam system, such as an evanescent field leader. The alignment device may be provided as a separate and / or compact module for aligning the beam propagation direction of a beam generation unit with respect to the alignment axis of the alignment device. This allows for calibration of the beam propagation direction of a beam generation unit outside the beam system, instead of using a permanent adjustment unit inside the beam system. This can simplify calibration conditions. A beam generation unit that has been externally calibrated and then mounted and aligned in the alignment device can be easily installed into a calibrated mounting unit in the beam system. Alternatively, the alignment device may be used in a beam system, such as the general alignment unit described above, in an assembled state.

[0012] Furthermore, by rotating adjacent cylindrical housings once or multiple times, it may be easier to align the beam propagation direction with the alignment axis of the alignment device. In fact, adjustment can be performed simply by rotating adjacent cylindrical housings, and therefore by very similar adjustment actions. This may simplify adjustment compared to known common adjustment units, where different adjustment actions are required for pitch, yaw angle, and translation direction adjustments.

[0013] A beam generation unit, which may or may not be part of an alignment device, may comprise a beam housing and a beam source configured to generate a directional beam in the beam propagation direction. In this regard, at least the maximum intensity of the directional beam may propagate substantially linearly, for example, without any diffusion at all, or at least with significant diffusion, in the radial direction perpendicular to the beam propagation direction.

[0014] A beam housing may have a predetermined shape on its outer surface. The shape of the beam housing defines the beam housing's central axis. In a substantially cylindrical beam housing, the beam housing's central axis coincides with the cylindrical axis of the beam housing. Alternatively, the beam housing may have different shapes, including rectangular or triangular. The beam housing may have a consistent outer shell in the direction of the beam housing's central axis. This may facilitate insertion of the beam housing in the direction of the beam housing's central axis.

[0015] Beam sources that can be permanently mounted in a beam housing are typically designed to emit a directional beam along the central axis of the beam housing. However, due to manufacturing tolerances, the actual beam propagation direction is often deviated angularly and / or translationally with respect to the central axis of the beam housing. This angular and / or translational deviation can be corrected by an alignment device, which mounts the beam generation unit to the device and calibrates the beam propagation direction by rotating each cylindrical housing relative to adjacent cylindrical housings.

[0016] An alignment device consists of and / or comprises a plurality of cylindrical housings having lumens. The cylindrical housings can be nested and inserted into one another, for example, like the shells of an onion. A cylindrical housing is called cylindrical because its outer surface and / or its lumen has the shape of a right cylinder or oblique cylinder with a circular base. Here, only the outer surface of the largest housing and / or the lumen of the smallest housing selectively have a cylindrical shape, while all other outer surfaces and all other lumens of the plurality of cylindrical housings have a cylindrical shape.

[0017] Each of the cylindrical housings may be offered in different sizes, for example, from the smallest to the largest. Each of the cylindrical housings other than the largest is at least partially inserted into the lumen of another cylindrical housing, where the outer surface of the inserted cylindrical housing may substantially coincide with the lumen of the cylindrical housing into which it is inserted.

[0018] Similarly, each of the cylindrical housings, except for the smallest, can at least partially accommodate another cylindrical housing in its lumen. Here, the inner surface of the accommodating cylindrical housing can substantially coincide with the outer surface of the inserted cylindrical housing.

[0019] In the inserted state, the cylindrical axis of the outer shape of each inserted small cylindrical housing can be substantially aligned with the bore axis of the inner shape of the larger cylindrical housing that each houses. In the inserted state, the two inserted cylindrical housings can rotate relative to each other about the bore axis of the larger of the two cylindrical housings, and / or about the cylindrical axis of the smaller of the two inserted cylindrical housings.

[0020] These cylindrical shapes allow for rotational movement of each small cylindrical housing relative to an adjacent large cylindrical housing. The cylindrical radius of the outer surface of the small housing may be only slightly smaller than the cylindrical radius of the inner lumen of the large cylindrical housing. The difference between the inner and outer cylindrical radii of the inserted cylindrical housings, and the tightness of each adjacent cylindrical housing, can be achieved according to the SN EN ISO 286-1 standard. To ensure accurate centering, each adjacent cylindrical housing is preferably assembled "without requiring high force" according to the same standard, which specifies bore K7 and shaft h6. As an example with a nominal diameter of 10 mm, the maximum clearance between the outer diameter of the small cylindrical housing and the inner lumen diameter of the large cylindrical housing may be 14 μm. The minimum clearance can be an interference of 10 μm, so some light force may be required during assembly. This clearance allows for smooth rotational movement during the rotatable adjustment of adjacent cylindrical housings, while also reducing the misalignment of the bore axes of the larger cylindrical housings relative to the cylindrical axis of the smaller cylindrical housings when tightening the rotational position of each cylindrical housing after adjustment.

[0021] Cylindrical housings may, for example, have substantially ring-shaped and / or pipe-shaped forms. These may each have an outer cylindrical diameter. Each of these outer cylindrical surfaces is provided on the outer cylindrical diameter. The outer shape may be provided as a right-circular column. The cylindrical axis relative to this outer cylindrical diameter corresponds to the cylindrical axis of each cylindrical housing.

[0022] Each cylindrical housing may have an inner cylindrical diameter. Each inner cylindrical diameter is provided with its own lumen. The lumen may be provided as a right cylinder or an oblique cylinder. The cylindrical axis relative to this inner cylindrical diameter corresponds to the lumen axis of each cylindrical housing.

[0023] The smallest cylindrical housing is configured to receive the beam generation unit. If the beam generation unit includes a cylindrical beam housing, the lumen of the smallest cylindrical housing may also be provided in a cylindrical shape. By positioning the beam generation unit at least partially within the lumen of the smallest of the cylindrical housings, the beam propagation direction is aligned with the central axis of the largest of the cylindrical housings.

[0024] The bore axes are offset in a controlled manner relative to the cylindrical axes of each cylindrical housing. This offset may include the bore axes being at an angle to and / or eccentric with respect to the cylindrical axes of each cylindrical housing. Each cylindrical axis, except for the largest cylindrical housing, is substantially aligned with the bore axis of the next largest cylindrical housing. Therefore, when the smaller of two adjacent cylindrical housings is rotated within the lumen of the larger cylindrical housing, the bore axis of the smaller cylindrical housing also always rotates around the bore axis of the larger cylindrical housing. Depending on the controlled offset of these two bore axes, the relative alignment of the two bore axes of the two adjacent cylindrical housings may change.

[0025] Specifically, the beam propagation direction is changed relative to the cylindrical axis of the second smallest cylindrical housing by rotating the smallest cylindrical housing that holds the beam generation unit within the lumen of the second smallest cylindrical housing. Subsequently, the beam propagation direction may be further changed by rotating the second smallest cylindrical housing relative to the third smallest cylindrical housing until the second largeest cylindrical housing rotates within the lumen of the largest cylindrical housing. This changes the beam propagation direction relative to the cylindrical axis of the largest cylindrical housing, which coincides with the alignment direction of the alignment device. Thus, the beam propagation direction can be aligned with the alignment direction of the alignment device.

[0026] Alignment devices, particularly the largest cylindrical housings, can be attached to a beam system, for example, an evanescent field leader, to direct the alignment direction towards a predetermined direction, such as a target point.

[0027] The alignment device comprises at least two cylindrical housings. If the beam propagation direction is offset by a predetermined angle with respect to the beam housing's central axis but is not eccentric, this offset can be adequately adjusted by two cylindrical housings having angled cavitation axes. Similarly, if the beam propagation direction is offset only in the translational direction with respect to the beam housing's central axis, this offset can be adequately adjusted by two cylindrical housings having eccentric cavitation axes. If the beam propagation direction is offset in both the angular and translational directions with respect to the beam housing's central axis, the alignment device can adequately correct the offsets in both the angular and translational directions using two cylindrical housings having angled cavitation axes and two cylindrical housings having eccentric cavitation axes. Here, one of the cylindrical housings may have both an angled and eccentric cavitation axis. Therefore, to correct both angular and translational offsets, it is preferable to have at least four cylindrical housings, two with angled but concentric cavitation axes and two with eccentric but linear cavitation axes.

[0028] For example, to correct any deviations as described above, the beam generation unit is mounted (for example, rotatably) inside the lumen of a smallest cylindrical housing, and then rotated substantially around the alignment axis, for example, separately from any of the cylindrical housings of the alignment device, or together with one, part, or all of them.

[0029] In this configuration, a single cylindrical housing of the alignment device can be replaced like a modular system. Here, sets of cylindrical housings with different predetermined alignment angles and eccentricities are available.

[0030] Furthermore, the alignment device may be equipped with a motor configured to perform rotational motion of each cylindrical housing, a single cylindrical housing, or all cylindrical housings. At least one motor is preferably an electric motor, which may be further remotely controlled by an internal or external control device. In such a configuration, the alignment of the beam generation unit by the alignment device may be remotely controlled by an internal or external control device.

[0031] In embodiments of the alignment device, the alignment device further comprises at least one angular alignment unit, the at least one angular alignment unit comprising at least two adjacent cylindrical housings, each having an alignment angle greater than 0°, wherein the two alignment angles of the cylindrical housings of the at least one angular alignment unit may be the same size within a predetermined tolerance. The alignment angles of each of the at least two cylindrical housings of the at least one angular alignment unit preferably coincide with the assumed maximum angular deviation of the beam propagation direction. If the exemplary assumed maximum angular deviation of the beam propagation direction is 3°, then the two alignment angles of each of the at least two cylindrical housings of the at least one angular alignment unit may be greater than about 2°, preferably in the range of about 2° to about 5°, more preferably about 3°, and / or within a predetermined tolerance range of ±0.2°, preferably ±0.15°, and more preferably ±0.1°.

[0032] Any angular misalignment of the beam generation unit can be corrected by using at least one of the angular alignment units to rotate one of the at least two cylindrical housings of each angular alignment unit around the alignment axis relative to the other cylindrical housing of the at least two cylindrical housings. Selectively, two of the at least two cylindrical housings of each angular alignment unit are rotated simultaneously relative to each other around the alignment axis. The two cylindrical housings of the angular alignment unit are preferably positioned adjacent to each other. To efficiently correct the angular misalignment of the beam generation unit, the alignments due to their respective rotations around the alignment axis are preferably adjusted as a pair.

[0033] An alignment device having at least one angular alignment unit can reliably correct the angular misalignment of the beam generation unit. In particular, this may provide the advantage of eliminating the need to pre-determine the angular misalignment of the beam generation unit, as it enables continuous correction within a predetermined angular alignment range of the angular alignment unit. The maximum angular misalignment value within the angular alignment range that can be corrected by this angular alignment unit is defined by the sum of all alignment angles of at least two adjacent cylindrical housings having alignment angles greater than 0°. Therefore, the maximum value of the angular alignment range is preferably greater than the assumed maximum misalignment angle of the beam generation unit. In a beam generation unit using a laser as a beam source, such assumed maximum misalignment angle may be about 6° if the assumed angular misalignment in the laser propagation direction is 3°.

[0034] In a preferred configuration of the alignment device, each of at least one angular alignment unit comprises exactly two adjacent cylindrical housings, each having an alignment angle greater than 0°. In this case, the minimum angular deviation of the angular alignment range that can be corrected by the angular alignment unit is calculated by subtracting the smaller alignment angle of the two adjacent cylindrical housings from the larger alignment angle of the two adjacent cylindrical housings. To enable neutral angular alignment without applying angular correction to beam generation units that are perfectly aligned and have no angular deviation, the minimum angular deviation of the angular alignment range is preferably 0°. Therefore, the alignment angles of the two cylindrical housings are preferably the same size and at least within a predetermined tolerance.

[0035] To eliminate beam propagation direction deviations caused by two alignment angles of two adjacent cylindrical housings that are not exactly the same size, the angular alignment unit may comprise three adjacent cylindrical housings having alignment angles greater than 0°. In such a configuration, if the smallest alignment angle of the three adjacent cylindrical housings is at least equal to, or greater than, the difference between the largest alignment angle of the three adjacent cylindrical housings and the second smallest alignment angle of the three adjacent cylindrical housings, a perfectly continuous angular alignment range from 0° to the maximum value (the sum of all alignment angles) can be corrected.

[0036] An alignment device may comprise an angle alignment unit having three or more adjacent cylindrical housings with alignment angles greater than 0°, but the number of cylindrical housings for adjustment may make adjustment more difficult and / or time-consuming. Furthermore, as the number of cylindrical housings increases, the alignment device may become bulkier. Therefore, an angle alignment unit preferably comprises exactly two cylindrical housings with similar alignment angles greater than 0°, or at least three cylindrical housings with alignment angles greater than 0°.

[0037] In an advanced example of this embodiment of the alignment device, the alignment device comprises at least two angular alignment units, wherein at least one of the alignment angles of at least two of the cylindrical housings of the first of the two angular alignment units is different from each of the alignment angles of at least two of the cylindrical housings of the second of the two angular alignment units.

[0038] Two angle alignment units can be used to adjust any misalignment angle of a beam generation unit on different scales. For example, the first of the two angle alignment units may have a cylindrical housing with a larger alignment angle than the second. This may be used first for rough angle alignment. This is followed by adjustment of the second alignment unit to provide finer angle alignment. For example, the second angle alignment unit may have a cylindrical housing with an alignment angle of, for example, about 3°. The first angle alignment unit may have a cylindrical housing with an alignment angle greater than about 5°, preferably in the range of about 5° to about 10°, and more preferably about 6°. The configuration of an alignment device with two or more angle alignment units may offer the advantage that potential misalignments in the beam propagation direction caused by the first angle alignment unit are corrected by one or more additional angle alignment units.

[0039] In an embodiment of the alignment device, the alignment device further comprises at least one translational alignment unit, the at least one translational alignment unit comprising at least two adjacent cylindrical housings, each having an eccentricity of the bore axis with respect to the cylindrical axis. The eccentricities of two of the cylindrical housings of the at least one translational alignment unit may be the same size within a predetermined tolerance. Here, the eccentricity of each of the at least two cylindrical housings of the at least one translational alignment unit may be greater than about 0.3 mm, preferably in the range of about 0.4 mm to about 0.7 mm, more preferably about 0.5 mm, and / or within a predetermined tolerance range of ±0.1 mm, preferably ±0.05 mm, and more preferably ±0.02 mm.

[0040] The translational alignment unit is preferably used after the angular misalignment of the beam generation unit has been corrected. By leaving the incident angle alignment unchanged, the translational alignment unit can correct and align any remaining translational misalignment of the beam propagation direction relative to the target point in the calibration space. In this regard, at least one of the translational alignment units can be used to correct any translational alignment of the beam generation unit by rotating one of the at least two circular housings of each translational alignment unit about the alignment axis. Selectively, two of the at least two cylindrical housings of each translational alignment unit are rotated simultaneously relative to each other about the alignment axis. The two cylindrical housings of the translational alignment unit are preferably arranged adjacent to each other. To efficiently correct the translational misalignment of the beam generation unit, the alignments due to their respective rotations around the alignment axis are adjusted as a pair.

[0041] An alignment device having at least one translational alignment unit can reliably correct the translational misalignment of the beam generation unit. In particular, this may provide the advantage of eliminating the need to pre-determine the translational misalignment of the beam generation unit, as it enables continuous correction within a predetermined translational alignment range of the translational alignment unit. The maximum translational misalignment value within this translational alignment range that can be corrected by the translational alignment unit is defined by the sum of all eccentricities of at least two adjacent cylindrical housings. Therefore, the maximum translational misalignment value within the translational alignment range is preferably greater than the assumed maximum misalignment of the beam generation unit. In a beam generation unit using a laser as the beam source, such an assumed maximum misalignment may be about 1 mm.

[0042] In a preferred configuration of the alignment device, each of at least one translational alignment unit comprises exactly two adjacent cylindrical housings, each having an eccentricity of the cavity axis with respect to the cylindrical axis. In this case, the minimum translational deviation within the translational alignment range that can be corrected by the translational alignment unit is calculated by subtracting the smaller eccentricity of the two adjacent cylindrical housings from the larger eccentricity of the two adjacent cylindrical housings. To enable neutral translational alignment without applying translational correction to beam generation units that are perfectly aligned and therefore have no translational deviation, the minimum translational deviation within the translational alignment range is preferably 0 mm. Therefore, the eccentricities of the two cylindrical housings are preferably the same size and at least within a predetermined tolerance.

[0043] To eliminate beam propagation directional deviations caused by two eccentricities of two adjacent cylindrical housings that are not exactly the same size, the translational alignment unit may comprise exactly three adjacent cylindrical housings having eccentricities of the chamber axis relative to the cylindrical axis. In such a configuration, if the smallest eccentricity of the three adjacent cylindrical housings is at least equal to, or greater than, the difference between the largest eccentricity of the three adjacent cylindrical housings and the second smallest eccentricity of the three adjacent cylindrical housings, a perfectly continuous translational alignment range from 0 mm to the maximum value (the sum of all eccentricities) can be corrected.

[0044] An alignment device may comprise a translational alignment unit having three or more adjacent cylindrical housings with eccentricity of the bore axis relative to the cylindrical axis, but the adjustment may become more difficult depending on the number of cylindrical housings used for adjustment. Furthermore, as the number of cylindrical housings increases, the alignment device may become bulkier. Therefore, a translational alignment unit preferably comprises exactly two cylindrical housings with similar eccentricity, or at least three or fewer eccentric cylinders.

[0045] In a more preferred embodiment of the alignment device, the alignment device comprises at least two translational alignment units, wherein at least one of the eccentricity amounts of at least two of the cylindrical housings of the first of the two translational alignment units is different from each of the eccentricity amounts of at least two of the cylindrical housings of the second of the two translational alignment units.

[0046] Two translational alignment units can be used to adjust any eccentricity of a beam generation unit on different scales. For example, the first of the two translational alignment units may have a cylindrical housing with a larger eccentricity than the second. This may be used first for rough translational alignment. This is followed by adjustment of the second translational alignment unit to provide finer translational alignment. For example, the second translational alignment unit may have a cylindrical housing with an eccentricity of, for example, about 0.5 mm. The first translational alignment unit may have a cylindrical housing with an eccentricity greater than about 0.9 mm, preferably in the range of about 0.9 mm to about 1.5 mm, and more preferably about 1.0 mm. The configuration of an alignment device with two or more translational alignment units may offer the advantage that potential deviations in the beam propagation direction caused by the first translational alignment unit are corrected by one or more additional translational alignment units.

[0047] In a further embodiment of the alignment device, the alignment device comprises at least one angular alignment unit and at least one translational alignment unit. The at least one angular alignment unit and the at least one translational alignment unit are arranged adjacent to each other. Here, the alignment device may comprise exactly four cylindrical housings, two of which have a cavity axis positioned at an alignment angle greater than 0° with respect to the cylindrical axis of each of the cylindrical housings, and two of which have a cavity axis eccentric with respect to the cylindrical axis of each of the cylindrical housings.

[0048] In this preferred configuration of the alignment device, both angular and translational misalignments of the beam generation unit can be corrected. Additionally, by reducing the number of required alignment steps, a compact and / or easy-to-operate alignment device is possible. Such a configuration allows the beam propagation direction of the mounted beam generation unit to be adjusted in at least four degrees of freedom. In particular, yawing and pitching can enable adjustments to the left and / or right in the upward and / or downward directions of the beam propagation direction.

[0049] In a further embodiment of the alignment device, the cylindrical axis and the cavity axis of each cylindrical housing having an alignment angle greater than 0° intersect at the center point of each cylindrical housing. The center point of the cylindrical housing may be provided as the center point of the outer surface of each cylindrical housing provided as a right-circular column. The center point is located at the center between two opposing bottom surfaces on the cylindrical axis and / or central axis of the right-circular column.

[0050] By having the cylindrical axis and the cavity axis of each cylindrical housing having an alignment angle greater than 0° intersect at the center point of each cylindrical housing, the correction of angular misalignment can be separated from the correction of translational misalignment. When rotating a cylindrical housing having an alignment angle greater than 0°, only the angular alignment of the beam propagation direction can be adjusted without changing the beam propagation direction in the translational direction. This reduces the translational misalignment of the beam generation unit when aligning the angle of the alignment device.

[0051] Translational misalignment caused by angular alignment of the alignment device can also be reduced by mounting the beam source at the center point of the smallest cylindrical housing.

[0052] To avoid translational misalignment caused by angular alignment of the alignment device, the center points of all cylindrical housings may be configured to be located in a plane perpendicular to the alignment axis.

[0053] Similarly, the bore axis of each cylindrical housing may be eccentric without any angle. This allows for the correction of translational deviations to be separated from the correction of angular deviations. When rotating a cylindrical housing with an eccentric bore, it is possible to adjust only the translational alignment of the beam propagation direction without changing the beam propagation direction in the angular direction.

[0054] In a further embodiment of the alignment device, the largest of the cylindrical housings further comprises a mounting projection, where the mounting projection may comprise a lumen extending through the mounting projection and / or a lumen positioned around the cylindrical axis of the largest cylindrical housing. Here, the mounting projection may provide a passage for the beam through the mounting projection in the beam propagation direction by comprising an outer shape conforming to the shape of the lumen of the smallest of the cylindrical housings and a lumen of the mounting projection surrounding the cylindrical axis of the largest of the cylindrical housings.

[0055] The mounting projection of the alignment device allows the alignment device to be clearly mounted to an external mounting unit of the calibration device and / or beam system. The mounting projection may have a ring and / or pipe-like shape extending from the largest of the cylindrical housings. The mounting projection may have a substantially cylindrical shape similar to, for example, the outer shape of the beam housing of a beam generation unit. By substantially replicating the shape of the lumen of the smallest of the cylindrical housings, preferably matching the outer shape of the beam generation unit, the mounting projection may provide an aligned extension of the beam generation unit and / or its beam housing. The mounting projection may provide an aligned extension of the beam housing that can be mounted to a beam system, rather than the beam housing itself (e.g., offset with respect to the beam propagation direction). This allows the mounting projection of the alignment device to be coupled to a standard beam system rather than a beam housing, and thus can be easily mounted to any standard external mounting unit such as a beam system.

[0056] Furthermore, preferably, the mounting projection is configured to allow the alignment device to be attached to an external mounting unit so that the beam propagation direction is oriented in both the positive and negative directions of the alignment axis. For this purpose, the mounting projection may have a lumen centered on the alignment direction that coincides with the cylindrical axis of the largest cylindrical housing.

[0057] In a further embodiment of the alignment apparatus, the smallest cylindrical housing, the beam housing of the beam generation unit, is provided with mounting elements for mounting the beam housing of the smallest cylindrical housing, particularly rotatably and / or detachably, into the lumen of the smallest cylindrical housing.

[0058] Alternatively or additionally, for each pair of adjacent cylindrical housings, the pair of adjacent cylindrical housings is provided with a mounting element for rotatably and particularly detachably mounting the outer surface of the smaller cylindrical housing of each pair into the lumen of the larger cylindrical housing of each pair of adjacent cylindrical housings, at least partially. Here, the larger cylindrical housing of each pair of adjacent cylindrical housings may be provided with fastening screws having cylindrical tips configured to screw in radially. The smaller cylindrical housing of each pair of adjacent cylindrical housings may be provided with circumferential grooves on their respective outer surfaces. Here, the cylindrical tips of the fastening screws of the larger cylindrical housing are configured to engage with the grooves of the smaller cylindrical housing when adjusting the alignment angle or eccentricity, and to already protrude from the grooves of the smaller cylindrical housing, thereby mounting each pair of adjacent cylindrical housings rotatably and particularly detachably relative to each other, and preventing relative movement of the larger and smaller cylindrical housings in the cylindrical axis direction. Furthermore, after the adjustment of each alignment angle or eccentricity is complete, the fastening screws may be screwed radially toward the cylindrical axis until the cylindrical tip of the fastening screw reaches the bottom surface of the groove of the small cylindrical housing, thereby fixing each cylindrical housing to each other in the adjusted position.

[0059] Generally, mounting elements for rotatably and especially detachably mounting three adjacent cylindrical housings are not limited to fastening screws protruding into complementary grooves, but may include all commonly used mounting elements known in the art, such as threads, pins, clip connectors, and adhesives. However, threads and grooves are preferred as mounting elements for all cylindrical housings because they allow for easy operation of the mounting element and secure, reversible fastening.

[0060] Furthermore, preferably, the cavity of the smallest cylindrical housing is configured to allow the beam housing to be mounted so that the beam propagation direction is oriented in both the positive and negative directions of the alignment axis.

[0061] A further embodiment is a system for aligning a beam at a predetermined angle to and / or a predetermined point on a target object, the system is Alignment device of the prior embodiment, Beam generation unit, The aforementioned target object and, Equipped with, The beam generation unit is configured to generate a directional beam in the beam propagation direction and is at least partially positioned within the lumen of the smallest cylindrical housing of the alignment device. The alignment device is configured to align the beam propagation direction with respect to the alignment axis of the alignment device at a predetermined angle and / or at a predetermined point on the target object. Regarding the system.

[0062] The beam generation unit of the system may comprise a beam housing surrounding the central axis of the beam housing, and a beam source configured to generate a directional beam. The beam housing may have an external shape substantially corresponding to the shape of the lumen of the smallest cylindrical housing of the alignment device.

[0063] The system may include a block comprising a beam holder having a lumen surrounding the beam holder central axis, and a target holder configured to mechanically mount a target object to the block. The beam holder can be adjusted to align the beam holder central axis at a predetermined angle to a predetermined point on the target plane of the target object. The largest cylindrical housing of the alignment device may be at least partially located within the lumen of the beam holder and / or rotatably located around the coaxially aligned beam holder central axis and the alignment axis of the alignment device.

[0064] In one embodiment of the system, the beam generation unit is configured to generate a directional photon beam, a directional neutron beam, a directional ion beam, or a directional electromagnetic beam as the directional beam.

[0065] In general, configurable beam sources are not limited to the specific beam sources listed above, but can be any physical source that enables directional propagation of physical waveforms such as acoustic waves and / or fluid flows and / or particle flows. However, as stated above, the beam source is preferably a beam source that provides a directional beam with limited spatial dispersion and / or diffusion. This allows for the identification of a defined beam propagation direction and alignment with the alignment axis of the alignment device.

[0066] In a further embodiment of the system, the position of the alignment device in the alignment axis direction is adjustable, and / or the rotational position of the alignment device surrounding the alignment axis is adjustable.

[0067] This configuration allows for adjustment of one or two additional degrees of freedom of the mounted beam generation unit. By adjusting the beam propagation direction in the forward / backward direction, the beam propagation length can be adjusted. By adjusting the beam propagation direction in the rolling direction, i.e., the rotation direction of the alignment device, the polarization alignment of the photon source as a beam generation unit can be adjusted.

[0068] In a further embodiment of the system, the system is provided as an evanescent field leader, the target object is provided as a transparent cuvette, and the beam generation unit is provided as a laser. Here, the system further comprises a block on which the largest cylindrical housing of the alignment device is mounted, so that the beam's propagation direction is aligned at a predetermined angle and / or at a predetermined point on the transparent cuvette. The evanescent field leader is a preferred application example of the alignment device. An alignment device with a laser is mounted, for example, on an optical block rather than on the laser itself. The alignment device may eliminate the need for the further alignment unit described at the beginning. The alignment device can adjust the laser beam propagation direction more comfortably and / or accurately than a typical alignment unit.

[0069] Another embodiment is a method for aligning the beam propagation direction of a beam generation unit with respect to the alignment axis of an alignment device, - Providing an alignment device in the aforementioned configuration in which cylindrical housings of different shapes are inserted into each other, - The step of mounting the beam generation unit to the alignment device, - The step of rotating at least one of the beam generation unit and / or the cylindrical housing about the alignment axis until the beam propagation direction is substantially aligned with the alignment axis of the alignment device, Regarding methods for providing such a system.

[0070] This method relates to the operation of an alignment device according to the embodiments described above. Therefore, the description of the alignment device also applies to this method, and vice versa.

[0071] In an embodiment of this method, the method is - The steps of aligning the beam generated by the beam generation unit in the beam propagation direction with the calibration target point of the calibration unit by attaching the largest cylindrical housing of the alignment device to the calibration unit, The steps include correcting the angular deviation in the propagation direction with respect to the alignment axis by rotating at least one of the cylindrical housings having an alignment angle greater than -0° about the alignment axis, - The steps of correcting the coaxial misalignment in the propagation direction with respect to the alignment axis by rotating at least one of the cylindrical housings having an eccentric cavity axis about the alignment axis, and / or, - A step of rotating the largest cylindrical housing of the alignment device about the alignment axis in order to adjust the polarization direction of the beam, To further prepare.

[0072] These steps describe how the alignment device is operated to compensate for anticipated misalignment components. For example, a calibration unit allows for external alignment of the beam generation unit, which simplifies the alignment process.

[0073] In embodiments of this method, the method further comprises at least one of the following steps. - A step of assembling multiple, specifically at least four, cylindrical housings together, and mounting a pair of adjacent cylindrical housings rotatably and particularly detachably relative to each other, thereby preventing relative movement of the large cylindrical housing between each large cylindrical housing and a small cylindrical housing in the axial direction of the large cylindrical housing, - The beam housing of the beam generation unit is mounted inside the lumen of the smallest cylindrical housing of the alignment device, and the rotational position of the beam housing is fixed by a mounting element to prevent relative movement of the beam housing in the rotational direction with respect to the lumen of the smallest cylindrical housing. - The alignment device is attached to the calibration unit, and the beam is generated by the beam generation unit. - Repeat the following beam adjustment steps until the beam propagation direction is aligned with the alignment axis of the alignment device: - The largest of the cylindrical housings of the angle alignment unit is rotated until the angular deviation in the beam propagation direction is minimized, and the rotational position of the angle alignment unit is fixed by the mounting element to prevent relative movement of the cylindrical housings of the angle alignment unit in the rotational direction. - The step of rotating the largest of the cylindrical housings of the translation alignment unit until the translational misalignment in the beam propagation direction is minimized, fixing the rotational position of the translation alignment unit with a mounting element, and preventing relative movement of the cylindrical housings of the translation alignment unit in the rotational direction. - If angular or translational misalignment is not completely corrected, remove the mounting elements of the angular alignment unit and translational alignment unit, remove the mounting elements that secure the beam housing of the beam generation unit, rotate the beam housing of the beam generation unit 180° relative to the inner lumen of the smallest cylindrical housing, and repeat the beam adjustment step. - A step of determining the polarization of the beam in the beam propagation direction, - Step of removing the alignment device from the calibration unit, - Step of attaching the alignment device to the beam system, - A step of adjusting the polarization of the beam by rotating the alignment device around the alignment axis of the alignment device in the beam system. - A step of adjusting the beam focus by adjusting the position of the alignment device in the beam system in the beam propagation direction.

[0074] In one embodiment, the alignment device comprises at least one cylindrical housing having an alignment angle greater than 0° and at least one cylindrical housing having an eccentricity of the cavity axis with respect to the cylindrical axis, and the method further comprises at least one of the following steps. Steps include: installing the beam housing of the beam generation unit into the lumen of the smallest cylindrical housing of the alignment device; A step of mounting the largest cylindrical housing of the alignment device to the calibration chamber of a rectangular calibration unit, wherein the exit point of the beam generated by the beam generation unit is located in the first xy plane of the calibration unit, the calibration target point is located in the second xy plane of the calibration unit, the first xy plane and the second xy plane are separated from each other by a predetermined calibration distance in the z direction of the calibration unit, and the xy coordinates of the exit point coincide with the xy coordinates of the calibration target point. A step of generating a beam using a beam generation unit, The steps include detecting the xy coordinates of the first deflection point in the second xy plane at the intersection of the beam and the second xy plane, A step of calculating the beam deflection angle based on the exit point, target point, and first deflection point. A step of correcting the deflection angle by rotating a beam housing relative to a cylindrical housing having an alignment angle greater than 0°, comprising at least one cylindrical housing of an alignment device, The steps include detecting the xy coordinates of the second deflection point in the second xy-plane at the intersection of the beam and the second xy-plane, A step of calculating the beam's deflection and translation based on the exit point, target point, and second deflection point. A step of correcting the deflection translation by rotating a beam housing relative to a cylindrical housing having an eccentricity of the cavity axis with respect to the cylindrical axis of an alignment device, wherein the cylindrical housing comprises at least one cylindrical housing.

[0075] The above may apply to any of the embodiments described above.

[0076] The following describes, with reference to the drawings, individual embodiments for solving the problem. Some of the individual embodiments described include features that are not absolutely necessary to carry out the subject matter of the claims but provide desired properties in a particular application. Therefore, embodiments that do not possess all the features of the embodiments described below shall also be considered to fall under the disclosed technical teachings. Furthermore, to avoid unnecessary repetition, certain features are described only in relation to the individual embodiments described below. Therefore, it is noted that the individual embodiments should be considered not only individually but also as a whole. Based on this outline, it is also possible to modify individual embodiments by incorporating one or more features of other embodiments. The individual embodiments described below can be systematically combined with one or more features described in relation to other embodiments. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0077] [Figure 1] Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of the evanescent field leader. [Figure 2] Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the alignment device according to the present invention after assembly. [Figure 3] Figure 3 shows an exploded side view of the alignment device according to the present invention. [Figure 4] Figure 4 shows an exploded perspective view of the alignment device according to the present invention. [Figure 5] Figure 5 shows a rear view of the alignment device according to the present invention. [Figure 6] Figure 6 shows a schematic exploded perspective view of the alignment device according to the present invention. [Figure 7] Figure 7 shows a schematic cross-sectional exploded view of the alignment device according to the present invention. [Figure 8] Figure 8 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the alignment device according to the present invention after assembly. [Figure 9] Figure 9 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a cylindrical housing having an alignment angle greater than 0° according to the present invention. [Figure 10] Figure 10 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the angle alignment unit according to the present invention after assembly. [Figure 11] Figure 11 shows a schematic rear view of a cylindrical housing having an eccentricity according to the present invention. [Figure 12] Figure 12 shows a schematic rear view of the translational alignment unit according to the present invention after assembly. [Figure 13] Figure 13 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the translational alignment unit according to the present invention after assembly. [Figure 14] Figure 14 shows a front view and a cross-sectional view of the alignment device according to the present invention after assembly. [Figure 15] Figure 15 shows a front view and a cross-sectional view of the angle alignment unit according to the present invention after assembly. [Figure 16] Figure 16 shows a front view and a cross-sectional view of the translational alignment unit according to the present invention after assembly. [Figure 17] Figure 17 shows a perspective view of the calibration unit. [Figure 18] Figure 18 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of an alignment device attached to a mounting unit of the system according to the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0078] Figure 1 shows a schematic layout of an evanescent field reader 200, known as prior art. The evanescent field reader 200 comprises an optical block 210 and a transparent cuvette 280 mechanically fixed to the block 210. The cuvette 280 contains one or more cuvette wells 282, each of which can be filled with a liquid 284. The liquid 284 is typically an aqueous solution containing a fluorescent dye. A beam generation unit 400, having a diode laser as a beam source and a collimation optical element for generating a directional laser beam 410, is used to illuminate the bottom surface of the cuvette wells 282 under total internal reflection conditions.

[0079] The beam generation unit 400 is mounted on the mechanical laser mounting section 230 of the adjustment unit 220, which is part of the optical block 210. The diameter of the directional laser beam 410 generated by the beam generation unit 400 in the beam propagation direction 420 is controlled by the aperture 240 of the optical block 210.

[0080] The adjusted laser beam 410 is directed at a predetermined target point at the interface between the air and the first outer cuvette wall, at a first incidence angle α in1 They collide, with a refraction angle α refr1 The laser beam is refracted at the interface between the inner cuvette wall and the liquid 284, at a second incident angle α. The refracted laser beam is then directed to the target point, preferably the center point, of the cuvette well 28 at the interface between the inner cuvette wall and the liquid 284. in2 The laser beam collides with the target point in the cuvette well 282. Under total internal reflection conditions, the refracted laser beam undergoes total internal reflection and exits the cuvette 280, directed toward the second outer cuvette wall. The evanescent field of the laser beam excites fluorescent molecules at the target point within the illumination area of ​​the cuvette well 282. The emitted fluorescent light features an essentially isotropic distribution with a wavelength slightly longer than that of the laser excitation light. A small portion of the fluorescent light 290 selected by the diaphragm 250 exits from the bottom of the cuvette well 282. One or more interference filters 260 are used to remove stray light from the interface between the liquid 284 and the bottom of the cuvette, and from the laser beam generated within the cuvette material. The intensity of the thus filtered fluorescent beam is measured by a detector 270, which is usually a photomultiplier tube or photodiode.

[0081] To align the laser beam 410 with the outer target point on the first outer cuvette wall inside the evanescent field leader 200, the adjustment unit 200 can align the propagation direction of the laser beam 410 with six degrees of freedom (x, y, z, θ, φ, ε) with respect to the target point and / or the target point on the bottom surface of the cuvette well 282. The y-axis and rotation axis φ for adjusting the yawing are positioned perpendicular to the x-z plane and are not shown in Figure 1. Adjustments in the θ direction are for adjusting the pitching and / or angle α in2 The critical angle α of total internal reflection Total It can be used to guarantee that it is greater than angle α. in2 Fine-tuning allows control of the depth of the evanescent field at the interface from the cuvette well 282 to the liquid 284. Adjustments in the x, y, z, and φ directions allow alignment of the propagation direction 420 of the laser beam 410 at the interface from the cuvette well 282 to the liquid 284 with respect to the target point in the cuvette well 282. Alignment in the ε direction allows for polarization alignment of the laser beam 410. This is particularly important at the incident angle α in1 When the angle is close to the Brewster angle, it is useful for optimizing the transmission of the laser beam into the cuvette.

[0082] Generally, the beam propagation direction 420 of a gain-guided laser diode with a collimator is not well aligned with the housing of the beam generation unit 400. This alignment can be improved by the adjustment unit 220 of the evanescent field leader 200. Any deflection of 0 to 3 mrad is measured for different beam generation units 400. Therefore, the propagation direction of each beam generation unit needs to be adjusted individually.

[0083] A typical adjustment unit 220, which includes a conventional x, y, and z translational stage with micrometer accuracy and a rotational alignment stage with less than 1 mrad accuracy, is quite large and requires access from at least three different directions. The present invention aims to improve the internal adjustment unit 220 of a beam system such as an evanescent field leader 200 with an external and / or mountable alignment device 10, which will be described below with reference to Figures 2 to 18, for example.

[0084] Figures 2 to 5 show various drawings of embodiments of the alignment apparatus 10 according to the present invention, comprising four cylindrical housings 201, 202, 203, and 204. A beam generation unit 400 can be mounted on the alignment apparatus 10, and the beam generation unit 400 may be part of the alignment apparatus 10 or provided as a separate component.

[0085] The outer surfaces 221, 222, 223, and 224 of the four cylindrical housings 201, 202, 203, and 204 are provided as right circular columns surrounding their respective cylindrical axes 211, 212, 213, and 214 (see Figure 7). The cylindrical housings 201, 202, 203, and 204 each have different shapes. For example, each cylindrical housing 201, 202, 203, and 204 has a different cylindrical radius from its respective cylindrical axis 211, 212, 213, and 214 to its respective outer surface 221, 222, 223, and 224. Here, the cylindrical radii of the outer surfaces 221 to 224 decrease in the order from cylindrical housing 201 to 204. Therefore, cylindrical housing 201 is provided as the largest of the cylindrical housings 201 to 204, and cylindrical housing 204 is provided as the smallest.

[0086] Each of the cylindrical housings 201, 202, 203, and 204 has its respective bore axis 241, 242, and 24 3、It includes cylindrical inner cavities 231, 232, 233, 234 formed in a cylindrical shape surrounding 244 respectively. Each inner cavity 231, 232, 233, 234 extends through the entire cylindrical housing 201, 202, 203, 204 in which it is provided. Also, the inner cavities 231 - 234 of the cylindrical housings 201 - 204 all have different shapes respectively. For example, each inner cavity 231 - 234 has different inner radii from each cavity axis 241 - 244 to the inner contour of each inner cavity 231 - 234. The respective inner radii of each inner cavity 231 - 234 decrease in the order of the cylindrical housings 201 to 204.

[0087] The inner radii of the inner cavities 231, 232, 233 substantially coincide with the respective cylindrical radii of the outer surfaces 221, 222, 223. Therefore, the cylindrical housings 202, 203, 204 are partially disposed in and / or can be disposed in the respective inner cavities 231, 232, 233 in a nested relationship.

[0088] The beam generation unit 400 includes a beam housing formed as a straight circular cylinder in the illustrated embodiment. Since the inner radius of the inner cavity 234 substantially coincides with the cylindrical radius of the beam housing of the beam generation unit 400, the beam generation unit 400 can be disposed in the inner cavity 234 of the smallest cylindrical housing 204.

[0089] The largest cylindrical housing 201 、 has a mounting convex portion 60. The mounting convex portion 60 is a mounting cavity 62 that extends through the mounting convex portion 60 and has a mounting cavity 62 disposed around the cylindrical axis 211 (see FIG. 7). The mounting convex portion 60 may have an outer shape similar to and / or conforming to the inner shape of the inner cavity 234 of the smallest cylindrical housing 204 and / or the outer shape of the beam generation unit 400.

[0090] Figure 2 shows a perspective half-front view of the assembled alignment device 10. Here, the four cylindrical housings 201, 202, 203, and 204 are arranged to be partially rotatable relative to each other, and a beam generation unit 400 (not shown in Figure 2) is mounted in the lumen 234 of the smallest cylindrical housing 234 in the alignment device 10, generating a beam 410 in the beam propagation direction 420. In the alignment state shown in Figure 2, the beam propagation direction 420 is aligned with the alignment axis 12 and / or the outer surface 221 of the largest cylindrical housing 201.

[0091] The mounting projection 60 is attached to the nearly closed end of the lumen 231 of the largest cylindrical housing 201, such that the mounting projection 60 and the largest cylindrical housing 201 share the cylindrical axis 211 of the largest cylindrical housing 201 as a common cylindrical axis. The right-circular column of the mounting projection 60 has a cylindrical radius that is similar to, and / or follows, the inner radius of the lumen 234 of the smallest cylindrical housing 204, and / or similar to, and / or follows, the cylindrical radius of the beam housing of the beam generation unit 400. The mounting cavity 62 penetrates the mounting projection 60 and the nearly closed end of the lumen 231 of the largest cylindrical housing 201, and is positioned and / or centered around the cylindrical axis 211 of the largest cylindrical housing 201.

[0092] Figures 3 and 4 show exploded side and perspective views of the alignment device 10 before assembly shown in Figure 2. These exploded views show cross-sections of cylindrical housings 202, 203, and 204, which are located in the lumens 231, 232, and 233 of the large, adjacent cylindrical housings 201, 202, and 203, respectively, when assembled.

[0093] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the outer surfaces 222, 223, and 224 are provided with circumferential grooves 742, 743, and 744, respectively, relative to the cylindrical shafts 212, 213, and 214. These grooves are used in the alignment device 10 after assembly, for the cylindrical housing 20 1、The fastening screws 721, 722, and 723 of the respective large, adjacent cylindrical housings 201, 202, and 203 function as mounting elements to rotatably mount 202, 203, and 204 to each other. To fasten the mounting elements, the fastening screws 721, 722, and 723 fit into grooves 742, 743, and 744, respectively. Fastening screw 724 functions as a single mounting element for rotatably mounting the cylindrical housing 204 to the beam generation unit 400.

[0094] Furthermore, Figures 3 and 4 show the beam generation unit 400 in a state where the beam propagation direction 420 of the beam 410 is misaligned with respect to the beam housing central axis 430, which corresponds to the cylindrical axis of the beam housing. The misalignment may include both angular and translational misalignments.

[0095] Figure 5 shows a rear view of the alignment apparatus 10 as assembled, as shown in Figures 2-4. Here, the beam generation unit 400 is mounted in the lumen 234 of the cylindrical housing 204. The rear sides of the two small and / or smallest cylindrical housings 201 and 202, as shown in Figure 5, are equipped with scales for angular alignment. The rear sides of the two large and / or largest cylindrical housings 203 and 204 are equipped with scales for translational alignment.

[0096] Figures 6 to 8 show different schematic diagrams of the alignment device 10, similar to those in Figures 2 to 5. The mounting protrusion 60 is omitted in these diagrams.

[0097] In Figure 6, the alignment device 10 and its cylindrical housings 201, 202, 203, and 204 are shown in a schematic exploded perspective view, allowing the insides of their respective lumens 231, 232, 233, and 234 to be seen.

[0098] Figure 7 shows a schematic cross-sectional exploded view of the alignment device 10 shown in Figure 6. In this cross-sectional view, the cylindrical axes 211, 212, 213, 214 and the bore axes 241, 242, 24 of each cylindrical housing 201, 202, 203, 204 are shown. 3、The number 244 is shown.

[0099] The internal cavities of the small and / or minimum cylindrical housings 203 and 204, 233 and 234, are provided as inclined cylinders with circular bases. Thus, for the small and / or minimum cylindrical housings 203 and 204, the respective cylindrical axes 213 and 214 intersect with the respective cavity axes 243 and 244 at alignment angles 253 and 254 greater than 0°. These small and / or minimum cylindrical housings 203 and 204 are provided as an angular alignment unit 401 and can be used to correct potential angular deviations in the beam propagation direction 420 of the beam 410 emitted from the beam generation unit 400.

[0100] The lumens of the large and / or largest cylindrical housings 201 and 202, 233 and 234, are provided as right-circular columns with circular bases. Thus, for the large and / or largest cylindrical housings 201 and 202, the cylindrical axes 211 and 212 are parallel to the lumen axes 241 and 242 with respect to a translational distance, i.e., eccentricity 261 and 262. These large and / or largest cylindrical housings 201 and 202 are provided as a translational alignment unit 501 and can be used to correct potential translational deviations of the beam propagation direction 420 of the beam 410 generated by the beam generation unit 400 with respect to the alignment axis 12.

[0101] The beam propagation direction 420 of the beam 410 generated by the beam generation unit 400 in Figures 6 to 8 is shown in a state where it is correctly aligned with respect to the beam housing central axis 430. In this exceptional case where the laser beam is not misaligned, angular and / or translational correction by the angular alignment unit 401 and / or translational alignment unit 501 of the alignment device 10 is not necessary.

[0102] To eliminate the need for angular alignment by the alignment unit 401, the cylindrical housings 203 and 204 are rotated relative to each other, as shown in Figure 7, so that their alignment angles 253 and 254 sum to 0°. At this rotational position, the alignment angles 253 and 254 cancel each other out and / or balance out. To eliminate the need for the translational unit 401 to perform translational alignment, the cylindrical housings 201 and 202 are rotated relative to each other, as shown in Figure 7, so that their eccentricities 261 and 262 sum to 0 mm. At this rotational position, the eccentricities 261 and 262 cancel each other out and / or balance out.

[0103] Figure 8 shows a cross-sectional view of the alignment device 10. Here, the beam generation unit 400 and cylindrical housings 201, 202, 203, and 204 are located within the cylindrical housing 20 1、 They are installed in the lumens 231, 232, 233, and 234 of 202, 203, and 204, respectively. The beam propagation direction 420 of the beam 410 of the beam generation unit 400 installed in the alignment device 10 is aligned with the alignment axis 12 of the alignment device 10.

[0104] Figure 9 shows a more detailed schematic cross-sectional view of the smallest cylindrical housing 204 having an alignment angle 254 greater than 0°. The smallest cylindrical housing 204 includes a groove 744 and a bore for fixing the beam generation unit 400 within its internal lumen 234.

[0105] Figure 10 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the assembled angular alignment unit 401, comprising cylindrical housings 203 and 204 having alignment angles 253 and 254 of 10°, respectively. The cylindrical housings 203 and 204 are rotated in opposite directions, for example, by 180°, around the cylindrical axis 214 and the chamber axis 244. As a result, the alignment angles 253 and 254 of the angular alignment unit 401 as a whole are 0°. In this minimum state, the angular alignment unit 401 does not change the alignment in the beam propagation direction 420. However, the alignment unit 401 can be configured in different states, not shown in Figure 10, where the two cylindrical housings 203 and 204 are positioned at different rotational positions relative to each other. For example, in the adjustment position (e.g., 0°) of the cylindrical housings 203 and 204 that are not rotated around the cylindrical axis 214 and the chamber axis 244, the total alignment angles 253 and 254 of the angular alignment unit 401 are a maximum of 20°. In this maximum state, the angular alignment unit 401 can change the alignment in the beam propagation direction 420 by the sum of the two alignment angles 253 and 254, i.e., 20° in the illustrated embodiment. Other adjustment positions between the minimum and maximum states within a relative rotation of the cylindrical housings 203 and 204, for example, from -180° to 180°, allow the continuous alignment angle of the entire angular alignment unit 401 to range from a minimum of 0° to a maximum of 20°.

[0106] Figure 11 shows a schematic rear view of the largest cylindrical housing 201 having an eccentricity of 261 greater than 0 mm. In particular, the bore axis 241 is eccentrically positioned with respect to the central axis 211.

[0107] Figure 12 shows a schematic rear view of the assembled translational alignment unit 501. A small cylindrical housing 202 with an eccentricity of 262 is mounted inside the lumen 231 of a large cylindrical housing 201. An angle alignment unit 401, which includes a beam generation unit 400, is mounted inside the lumen 232 of the small cylindrical housing 202.

[0108] Figure 13 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the translational alignment unit 501 of Figure 12, with the angular alignment unit 401 removed.

[0109] The cylindrical housings 201 and 202 in the embodiments shown in Figures 12 and 13, having eccentricities of 261 and 262, are provided with eccentricities of 0.5 mm, respectively. The cylindrical housings 201 and 202 are rotated in opposite directions, for example, by 180°, around the cylindrical axis 212 and the bore axis 241, and the combined eccentricities of 261 and 262 for the translational alignment unit 501 as a whole are 0 mm. In this minimum state, the translational alignment unit 501 does not change the alignment in the beam propagation direction 420. However, the translational alignment unit 501 can be configured in different states, not shown in Figure 13, where the two cylindrical housings 201 and 202 are positioned at different rotational positions relative to each other. For example, in the adjustment position (e.g., 0°) of the cylindrical housings 201 and 202 which are not rotated around the cylindrical axis 212 and the chamber axis 241, the total eccentricity of the translational alignment unit 501 as a whole is a maximum of 1 mm. In this maximum state, the translational alignment unit 501 can change the alignment in the beam propagation direction 420 by the sum of the two eccentricities 261 and 262, i.e., 1 mm in the illustrated embodiment. Other adjustment positions between the minimum and maximum states within a relative rotation of the cylindrical housings 201 and 202, for example, from -180° to 180°, result in a continuous alignment eccentricity of the translational alignment unit 501 as a whole from a minimum of 0 mm to a maximum of 1 mm.

[0110] Figures 14 to 16 show the front view and cross-sectional view of the alignment device 10, the angular alignment unit 401, and the translational alignment unit 501, as introduced in Figures 2 to 5. The beam generation unit 400 shown in Figures 14 to 15 generates a beam 410 with the beam propagation direction 420 offset from the beam housing central axis 430. The offset of the beam 410 is corrected by adjusting the angular alignment unit 401, which has rotatable cylindrical housings 203 and 204, accordingly, as shown in Figure 14, and by adjusting the translational alignment unit 501, which has rotatable cylindrical housings 201 and 202. In the aligned state, the beam propagation direction 420 is coaxial with the alignment axis 12 of the alignment device.

[0111] Figures 15 and 16 show the stepwise process of aligning the beam propagation direction 420 of the beam generation unit 400 with the alignment axis 12 of the alignment device 10.

[0112] In the first step shown in Figure 15, for example, the angle alignment step, adjacent cylindrical housings 203 and 204 of the angle alignment unit 401 are rotated relative to each other around the cylindrical axis 214 and the lumen axis 244 until the beam propagation direction 420 is parallel to the outer surface 203 of cylindrical housing 203, although it is not yet coaxial with the alignment axis 12 of the alignment device 12. Here, the angle can be aligned simply by rotating the smallest cylindrical housing 204 within the lumen 233 of the second smallest cylindrical housing 203. Therefore, the angular misalignment can be adjusted by performing a single adjustment operation on the relative rotational positions of the two cylindrical housings 203 and 204 of the angle alignment unit 401.

[0113] In a selective polarization alignment step, the second smallest cylindrical housing 203 may be rotated within the lumen 232 of the next largest cylindrical housing 202 (not shown in Figure 15). This allows for adjustment of the beam's polarization orientation.

[0114] In the second step shown in Figure 16, for example, the eccentric alignment step, adjacent cylindrical housings 201 and 202 of the translational alignment unit 501 are aligned such that the beam propagation direction 420 is parallel and / or coaxial with the outer surface 201 of the cylindrical housing 201, The cylindrical shaft 212 and the lumen shaft 241 are rotated relative to each other around their respective axes until they are coaxial with the alignment axis 12 of the alignment device 12. Here, the translational misalignment can be corrected simply by rotating the small cylindrical housing 202 within the lumen 231 of the largest cylindrical housing 201. Therefore, the translational misalignment can be adjusted by performing a single adjustment operation on the relative rotational positions of the two cylindrical housings 201 and 202 of the translational alignment unit 501.

[0115] After both the angular alignment step and the eccentric alignment step have been performed, the beam propagation direction 420 is positioned coaxially with respect to the alignment axis 12.

[0116] Figure 17 shows a perspective view of a calibration unit 300 for calibrating the beam propagation direction 420 of the beam generation unit 400 with respect to the alignment axis 12 of the alignment device 10, as shown in Figures 2 to 16.

[0117] In the calibration process, the beam housing of the beam generation unit 400 is mounted in the lumen 234 of the smallest cylindrical housing 204 of the alignment device 10. Then, the mounting projection 60 of the alignment device 10 is mounted in the calibration chamber of the rectangular calibration unit 300. During mounting, the exit point of the beam 410 generated by the beam generation unit 400 is positioned in the first xy plane of the calibration unit 300, and the calibration target point is positioned in the second xy plane of the calibration unit 300. Here, the first xy plane and the second xy plane are separated by a predetermined calibration distance in the z direction of the calibration unit, and the xy coordinates of the exit point correspond to the xy coordinates of the calibration target point.

[0118] In the next step, beam 410 is generated by beam generation unit 400. The intersection of beam 410 and the second xy-plane is detectable in the xy coordinates of the first deflection point in the second xy-plane. Based on the exit point, target point, and first deflection point, the beam deflection angle can be calculated. If present, this deflection angle is corrected by rotating the cylindrical housings 203 and 204 of the angular alignment unit 401 of the alignment device 10, for example, around the cylindrical axis 214 and the chamber axis 243. After the angular deviation of beam 410 is corrected, the beam propagation direction 420 is positioned at least parallel to the alignment axis 12 of the alignment device 10.

[0119] Then, the actual intersection point of the angle-aligned beam 410 in the second xy plane is detected again, and the xy coordinates of the second deflection point in the second xy plane are determined. Based on the exit point, target point, and second deflection point, the deflection translation amount of beam 140 can be calculated. If any, this deflection translation amount is corrected by rotating the cylindrical housings 201 and 201 of the translation alignment unit 501 of the alignment device 10, for example, around the cylindrical axis 212 and the chamber axis 241. After the translational deviation of beam 410 is corrected, the beam propagation direction 420 becomes coaxial with the alignment axis 12 of the alignment device 10, and beam 410 intersects the second xy plane at the target point.

[0120] Next, the aligned beam generation unit 400, mounted on the alignment device 10, is removed from the calibration unit 300 and can be incorporated into the beam system, such as the evanescent field leader 200, as shown in Figure 1.

[0121] Therefore, the alignment device 10 can be aligned outside the beam system. The aligned and, consequently, calibrated mounting protrusion 60 of the alignment device 10 becomes the aligned and / or calibrated extension of the beam housing of the beam generation unit 400, which is aligned in the beam propagation direction 420.

[0122] Figure 18 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the alignment device 10 attached to the mounting unit of the system 100 according to the present invention. In particular, the beam generation unit 400 mounted on the alignment device 10 shown in Figures 2 to 16 is configured to be within the environment of the evanescent field leader 200 described in Figure 1. The alignment device 10, together with the aligned beam generation unit 400, can be mounted on the laser mounting section of the adjustment unit 220 of the block 210 of the evanescent field leader 200 shown in Figure 1.

[0123] Due to the alignment capabilities of the alignment device 10, the adjustment performed by the adjustment unit 220 in Figure 1 is redundant, and the adjustment unit 220 in Figure 1 can be omitted or replaced with a simple laser mounting unit 230 without adjustment functionality, as shown in Figure 18. Here, the aiming of the laser mounting body 230 is calibrated and aligned to match a predetermined outer target point on the outer wall of the cuvette 280. In particular, the mounting projection 60 of the alignment device 10 can be mounted on the tubular section of the laser mounting body 230, and the position of the alignment device 10 in the direction of the alignment axis 12, and the rotational position of the alignment device 10 around the alignment axis 12 are further adjustable. The final position of the alignment device 10 in the tubular section of the laser mounting body 230 can be fastened with fastening screws.

[0124] Further features, aspects, and embodiments are provided in the following clauses. [Clause 1] An alignment device (10) for aligning the beam propagation direction (420) of a beam generation unit (400) with respect to the alignment axis (12) of an alignment device (10), wherein the beam generation unit (400) is mountable on the alignment device (10), and the alignment device (10) comprises a plurality of cylindrical housings (20) of different shapes that are inserted into each other. 1…n In an alignment device (10) equipped with, - Each cylindrical housing (20 1…n ) is the respective cylindrical axis (21 1…n The outer surface (22 1…n ) and the respective cavity axes (24 1…n ) surrounding the lumen (23 1…n ) and each of the cylindrical housings (20 1…n ) extends through the lumen (23 1…n ) and, - The cylindrical housing (20 1…n ) Each of the aforementioned lumens (23 1…n ) is cylindrical, - The cylindrical housing (20 1…n Each of the aforementioned outer surfaces (22) other than the largest of the two 1…n ) is cylindrical, and the cylindrical housing (20 1…n ) the lumen of adjacent ones (23 1…n ) is positioned at least partially rotatably, - The smallest of the cylindrical housings (20 n ) the inner lumen (23 n ) is configured to at least partially receive the beam generation unit (400), - Each cylindrical housing (20 1…n ) the aforementioned cavity axis (24 1…n ) is an alignment angle greater than 0° (25 1…n ) and / or the respective cylindrical housing (20 1…n ) the cylindrical shaft (21 1…n It is positioned eccentrically relative to ) - The alignment axis (12) of the alignment device (10) coincides with the cylindrical axis of the largest of the cylindrical housings (201). Alignment device (10). [Clause 2] The alignment device (10) comprises at least one angle alignment unit (40 1…i ) further comprising the at least one angle alignment unit (40 1…i ) is an alignment angle greater than 0° (25 1…n ) each having at least two adjacent cylindrical housings (20 1…n ) equipped, Selectively, the at least one angle alignment unit (40 1…i ) the cylindrical housing (20 1…n ) two of the aforementioned alignment angles (25 1…n ) are the same size within a given tolerance, Selectively, the at least one angle alignment unit (40 1…i ) the at least two cylindrical housings (20 1…n Each of the aforementioned alignment angles (25 1…n ) is greater than approximately 2°, preferably in the range of approximately 2° to approximately 5°, more preferably approximately 3°, and / or within a predetermined tolerance range of ±0.2°, preferably ±0.15°, more preferably ±0.1°. Alignment device (10) as described in Clause 1. [Clause 3] The alignment device (10) comprises at least two angle alignment units (40 1…i ) comprising the first of the two angular alignment units (401) the at least two cylindrical housings (20 1…n ) the alignment angle (25 1…n ) at least one of the two cylindrical housings (20) of the second (402) of the two angular alignment units 1…n ) the alignment angle (25 1…n Each of the following is different: Alignment device (10) as described in Clause 2. [Clause 4] The alignment device (10) comprises at least one translational alignment unit (50 1…i ) further equipped, The at least one translational alignment unit (50 1…i ) is the cylindrical shaft (25 1…n ) relative to the cavity axis (24 1…n ) Eccentricity (26 1…n ) each having at least two adjacent cylindrical housings (20 1…n ) equipped, Selectively, the at least one translational alignment unit (50 1…i ) the cylindrical housing (20 1…n ) two of the aforementioned eccentricity amounts (26 1…n ) are the same size within a given tolerance, Selectively, the at least one translational alignment unit (50 1…i ) the at least two cylindrical housings (20 1…n ) Each of the aforementioned eccentricity amounts (26 1…n ) is greater than approximately 0.3 mm, preferably in the range of approximately 0.4 mm to approximately 0.7 mm, more preferably approximately 0.5 mm, and / or within a predetermined tolerance range of ±0.1 mm, preferably ±0.05 mm, more preferably ±0.01 mm. Alignment device (10) as described in any of clauses 1 to 3. [Clause 5] The alignment device (10) comprises at least two translational alignment units (50 1…i ) equipped, The first of the two translational alignment units (501) has at least two cylindrical housings (20 1…n ) the eccentricity amount (26 1…n ) at least one of the two cylindrical housings (20) of the second (502) of the two translational alignment units 1…n ) the eccentricity amount (26 1…n Each of the following is different: Alignment device (10) as described in Clause 4. [Clause 6] The alignment device (10) comprises at least one angle alignment unit (40 1…i ) and at least one translational alignment unit (50 1…i ) and, The at least one angle alignment unit (40 1…i ) and at least one of the translational alignment units (50 1…i ) are arranged adjacent to each other, The alignment device (10) is precisely equipped with four cylindrical housings (201, 202, 203, 204) selectively, two of which are the respective cylindrical housings (20 1…4 ) the cylindrical shaft (21 1…4 Alignment angle greater than 0° (25) 1…4 The cavity axis (21) is positioned at ) 1…4 ) is provided, and two of them are the respective cylindrical housings (20 1…4 ) the cylindrical shaft (21 1…4 The eccentric cavity axis (21 1…4 ) equipped, Alignment devices (10) as described in Clauses 2 and 4. [Clause 7] Alignment angle greater than 0° (25 1…n Each cylindrical housing (20) has 1…n ) the cylindrical shaft (21 1…n ) and the aforementioned cavity axis (24 1…n ) refers to each of the aforementioned cylindrical housings (20 1…n Intersecting at the central point of ) Alignment device (10) as described in any of clauses 1 to 6. [Clause 8] The largest of the cylindrical housings (201) further comprises a mounting projection (60), Optionally, the mounting projection (60) comprises a lumen (62) extending through the mounting projection (60) and / or a lumen (62) arranged around the cylindrical axis (211) of the largest cylindrical housing (201). Optionally, the mounting projection (60) is of an outer shape conforming to the shape of the lumen (23 n ) of the smallest of the cylindrical housings (20 n ), and comprises a lumen (62) surrounding the cylindrical axis (211) of the largest of the cylindrical housings (201) in the beam propagation direction (420). The alignment device (10) according to any one of clauses 1 to 7. [Clause 9] The smallest cylindrical housing (20 n ) comprises a mounting element (70) for mounting the beam housing of the beam generation unit (400) in the lumen (23 n ) of the smallest cylindrical housing (20 n ), in particular rotatably and / or removably, and / or For each pair of adjacent cylindrical housings (20 1…n ), the pair of adjacent circular housings (20 1…n ) each comprise a mounting element (70) for mounting the outer surface (22 1…n ) of the smaller cylindrical housing of each pair at least partially rotatably and in particular removably in the lumen (23 1…n ) of the larger cylindrical housing of each pair of adjacent cylindrical housings (20 1…n ). Optionally, the larger cylindrical housing of each pair of adjacent cylindrical housings (20 1…n ) comprises a fastening screw (72) configured to be screwed in radially, and the smaller cylindrical housing of each pair of adjacent cylindrical housings (20 1…n ) comprises a circumferential groove (74) in its respective outer surface (22 1…n ). The fastening screw (72) of the large cylindrical housing projects into the groove (74) of the small cylindrical housing, thereby mounting the pair of adjacent cylindrical housings (20 1…n ) rotatably and particularly detachably with respect to each other. The alignment device (10) according to any one of clauses 1 to 8. [Clause 10] A system (100) for aligning the aiming of a beam at a predetermined angle and / or with respect to a predetermined point of a target object, the system (100) comprising: The alignment device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 9; A beam generation unit (400); The target object; and is provided with The beam generation unit (400) is configured to generate a directional beam (410) in the beam propagation direction (410), and is at least partially disposed in the inner cavity (23 n ) of the smallest cylindrical housing (20 n ) of the alignment device (10). The alignment device (10) is configured to align the propagation direction of the beam at the predetermined angle with respect to the alignment axis (12) of the alignment device (10) and / or at the predetermined point of the target object. System. [Clause 11] The beam generation unit (400) is configured to generate, as the directional beam (410), a directional photon beam, a directional neutron beam, a directional ion beam, or a directional electromagnetic beam. The system (100) according to clause 10. [Clause 12] The position of the alignment device (10) in the direction of the alignment axis (12) is adjustable, and / or The rotational position of the alignment device (10) around the alignment axis (12) is adjustable. The system(100) as described in Clause 10 or 11. [Clause 13] The system (100) is provided as an evanescent field reader (200), the target object is provided as a transparent cuvette, and the beam generation unit (400) is provided as a laser. The system (100) further comprises a block on which the largest cylindrical housing (201) of the alignment device (10) is mounted, so that the beam (420) is aimed in the propagation direction at the predetermined angle and / or at the predetermined point on the transparent cuvette. A system (100) as described in any of clauses 10 to 12. [Clause 14] A method for aligning the beam propagation direction (420) of a beam generation unit (400) with respect to the alignment axis (12) of an alignment device (10), - An alignment device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the cylindrical housing (20) has a different shape. 1…n The steps include providing an alignment device (10) in which ) are inserted into each other, - The step of mounting the beam generation unit (400) onto the alignment device (10), - The beam generation unit (400) and / or the cylindrical housing (20) until the beam propagation direction (420) is substantially aligned with the alignment axis (12) of the alignment device (10) 1…n The steps include rotating at least one of the ) around the alignment axis (12), A method for providing this. [Article 15] - The steps of attaching the largest cylindrical housing (201) of the alignment device (10) to the calibration unit, thereby aligning the beam (410) generated by the beam generation unit (400) in the beam propagation direction (420) with the calibration target point of the calibration unit, Alignment angle greater than -0° (251…n The cylindrical housing (20 1…n The steps include: correcting the angular deviation in the propagation direction with respect to the alignment axis (12) by rotating at least one of the ) around the alignment axis (12); - Eccentric cavity axis (24 1…n The cylindrical housing (20 1…n The steps include correcting the coaxial misalignment in the propagation direction with respect to the alignment axis (12) by rotating at least one of the ) around the alignment axis (12), and / or, - A step of rotating the largest cylindrical housing (201) of the alignment device (10) about the alignment axis (12) in order to adjust the polarization direction of the beam (410), The method described in clause 14, which further includes the following:

[0125] 10 Alignment device 12 Alignment Axes 20 1…n Cylindrical housing twenty one 1…n Cylindrical shaft twenty two 1…n external surface twenty three 1…n lumen twenty four 1…n cavity axis twenty five 1…n Alignment angle 26 1…n Eccentricity 40 1…i Angle alignment unit 50 1…i Translational alignment unit 60 Mounting protrusion 62 Mounting protrusion cavity 72 1…n Fastening screws 74 2…n groove 100 Systems 120 Target Objects 200 Evanescent Field Leaders 210 blocks 220 Adjustment Unit 230 Laser Mount 240 aperture 250 diaphragm 260 Interference Filters 270 Detector Plate 280 cuvettes 282 Cuvette Wall 284 Liquid containing fluorescent dye 290 fluorescent lamps 300 calibration units 400 Beam Generation Unit 410 beams 420 Beam propagation direction 430 Beam housing central axis n Number of cylindrical housings

Claims

1. An alignment device (10) for aligning the beam propagation direction (420) of a beam generation unit (400) with respect to the alignment axis (12) of an alignment device (10), wherein the beam generation unit (400) is mountable on the alignment device (10), and the alignment device (10) comprises at least four cylindrical housings (20) of different shapes that are inserted into each other. １…ｎ In an alignment device (10) equipped with, - Each cylindrical housing (20 １…ｎ ) is the respective cylindrical shaft (21 １…ｎ The outer surface (22 １…ｎ ) and each of the cavity axes (24 １…ｎ The lumen (23 １…ｎ ) and each of the cylindrical housings (20 １…ｎ The lumen (23 １…ｎ ) and, - Each of the inner cavities (23 １…ｎ ), other than the smallest one of the cylindrical housings (20 １…ｎ ), is cylindrical, - The cylindrical housing (20 １…ｎ ) Each of the aforementioned outer surfaces (22 １…ｎ ) is cylindrical, and the cylindrical housing (20 １…ｎ The lumen of adjacent parts (23 １…ｎ ) is positioned at least partially so as to be rotatable, - The smallest of the cylindrical housings (20 ｎ The inner lumen (23 ｎ ) is configured to at least partially receive the beam generation unit (400), - Each cylindrical housing (20 １…ｎ ) the aforementioned cavity axis (24 １…ｎ ) is an alignment angle greater than 0° (25 １…ｎ ) and / or the respective cylindrical housing (20 １…ｎ ) the cylindrical shaft (21 １…ｎ It is positioned eccentrically with respect to ) - The alignment shaft (12) of the alignment device (10) is the largest of the cylindrical housings (20 １ ) coincides with the aforementioned cylindrical axis, Alignment device (10).

2. The alignment device (10) comprises at least one angle alignment unit (40 １…ｉ ) further comprising the at least one angle alignment unit (40 １…ｉ ) is an alignment angle greater than 0° (25 １…ｎ At least two adjacent cylindrical housings (20) each having ) １…ｎ ) equipped, Selectively, the at least one angle alignment unit (40 １…ｉ The cylindrical housing (20 １…ｎ ) two of the aforementioned alignment angles (25 １…ｎ ) are the same size within a given tolerance, Selectively, the at least one angle alignment unit (40 １…ｉ ) The at least two cylindrical housings (20 １…ｎ Each of the alignment angles (25 １…ｎ ) is greater than approximately 2°, preferably in the range of approximately 2° to approximately 5°, more preferably approximately 3°, and / or within a predetermined tolerance range of ±0.2°, preferably ±0.15°, more preferably ±0.1°. Alignment device (10) according to claim 1.

3. The alignment device (10) comprises at least two angle alignment units (40 １…ｉ ) is provided, and the first of the two angle alignment units (40 １ ) The at least two cylindrical housings (20 １…ｎ The alignment angle (25 １…ｎ ) at least one of the two angle alignment units (40 ２ ) The at least two cylindrical housings (20 １…ｎ The alignment angle (25 １…ｎ Each of the above is different, Alignment device (10) according to claim 2.

4. The alignment device (10) comprises at least one translational alignment unit (50 １…ｉ ) further equipped, The at least one translational alignment unit (50 １…ｉ ) is the cylindrical shaft (25 １…ｎ ) relative to the cavity axis (24 １…ｎ ) Eccentricity (26 １…ｎ At least two adjacent cylindrical housings (20) each having ) １…ｎ ) equipped, Selectively, the at least one translational alignment unit (50 １…ｉ The cylindrical housing (20 １…ｎ ) two of the aforementioned eccentricity amounts (26 １…ｎ ) are the same size within a given tolerance, Selectively, the at least one translational alignment unit (50 １…ｉ ) The at least two cylindrical housings (20 １…ｎ The eccentricity of each of the (26 １…ｎ ) is greater than approximately 0.3 mm, preferably in the range of approximately 0.4 mm to approximately 0.7 mm, more preferably approximately 0.5 mm, and / or within a predetermined tolerance range of ±0.1 mm, preferably ±0.05 mm, more preferably ±0.01 mm. Alignment device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The alignment device (10) comprises at least two translational alignment units (50 １…ｉ ) equipped, The first of the two translational alignment units (50 １ ) The at least two cylindrical housings (20 １…ｎ The eccentricity of the (26 １…ｎ ) at least one of the two translational alignment units (50 ２ ) The at least two cylindrical housings (20 １…ｎ The eccentricity of the (26 １…ｎ Each of the above is different, Alignment device (10) according to claim 4.

6. The alignment device (10) comprises at least one angle alignment unit (40 １…ｉ ) and at least one translational alignment unit (50 １…ｉ ) and, The at least one angle alignment unit (40 １…ｉ ) and at least one of the translational alignment units (50 １…ｉ ) are arranged adjacent to each other, The alignment device (10) precisely aligns four cylindrical housings (20 １ , 20 ２ , 20 ３ , 20 ４ ) selectively provided, two of which are the respective cylindrical housings (20 １…４ ) the cylindrical shaft (21 １…４ Alignment angle greater than 0° (25 １…４ The cavity axis (21) is positioned at ) １…４ ) is provided, and two of them are the respective cylindrical housings (20 １…４ ) the cylindrical shaft (21 １…４ The cavity axis (21 １…４ ) equipped with, Alignment device (10) according to claims 2 and 4.

7. Alignment angle greater than 0° (25 １…ｎ Each cylindrical housing (20) has ) １…ｎ ) the cylindrical shaft (21 １…ｎ ) and the aforementioned cavity axis (24 １…ｎ ) refers to each of the cylindrical housings (20 １…ｎ Intersecting at the central point of ) Alignment device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. The largest of the cylindrical housings (20 １ ) further comprises a mounting projection (60), Selectively, the mounting projection (60) extends through the mounting projection (60) into a lumen (62) and / or the largest cylindrical housing (20 １ ) the cylindrical shaft (21 １ It comprises a lumen (62) arranged around the ) Selectively, the mounting projection (60) is the smallest of the cylindrical housing (20 ｎ The inner lumen (23 ｎ The external shape follows the shape of the above, and the largest of the cylindrical housings (20) in the beam propagation direction (420) １ ) the cylindrical shaft (21 １ It comprises a lumen (62) surrounding the ) Alignment device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. The smallest cylindrical housing (20 ｎ ) The beam housing of the beam generation unit (400) is the smallest cylindrical housing (20 ｎ The inner lumen (23 ｎ ) comprising mounting elements for being particularly rotatable and / or detachably mounted, and / or For each pair of adjacent cylindrical housings (20 １…ｎ ), the pair of adjacent circular housings (20 １…ｎ ) each have a mounting element for rotatably and particularly removably mounting the outer surface (22 １…ｎ ) of the smaller cylindrical housing of each pair at least partially in the inner cavity (23 １…ｎ ) of the larger cylindrical housing of each pair of adjacent cylindrical housings (20 １…ｎ ). Selectively, each pair of adjacent cylindrical housings (20 １…ｎ The large cylindrical housing among them is equipped with fastening screws (72) configured to be screwed in radially, and each pair of adjacent cylindrical housings (20 １…ｎ The small cylindrical housing among the ) has the outer surface (22 １…ｎ ) is provided with grooves (74) in the circumferential direction, The fastening screw (72) of the large cylindrical housing protrudes into the groove (74) of the small cylindrical housing, thereby mounting the pair of adjacent cylindrical housings (20 １…ｎ ) rotatably and particularly detachably to each other. Alignment device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. A system (100) for aiming a beam at a predetermined angle and / or to a predetermined point on a target object, wherein the system (100) An alignment device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, Beam generation unit (400), The aforementioned target object and, Equipped with, The beam generation unit (400) is configured to generate a directional beam (410) in the beam propagation direction (410), and the smallest cylindrical housing (20) of the alignment device (10) ｎ The inner lumen (23 ｎ ) are at least partially located, The alignment device (10) is configured to align the propagation direction of the beam with respect to the alignment axis (12) of the alignment device (10) at a predetermined angle and / or at a predetermined point on the target object. system.

11. The beam generation unit (400) is configured to generate a directional photon beam, a directional neutron beam, a directional ion beam, or a directional electromagnetic beam as the directional beam (410). The system (100) according to claim 10.

12. The position of the alignment device (10) in the direction of the alignment axis (12) is adjustable, and / or The rotational position of the alignment device (10) around the alignment axis (12) is adjustable. The system (100) according to claim 10 or 11.

13. The system (100) is provided as an evanescent field reader (200), the target object is provided as a transparent cuvette, and the beam generation unit (400) is provided as a laser. The system (100) includes the largest cylindrical housing (20) of the alignment device (10). １ The block to which the ) is mounted is further provided so that the beam (420) is aimed in the propagation direction at the predetermined angle and / or at the predetermined point of the transparent cuvette. The system (100) according to any one of claims 10 to 12.

14. A method for aligning the beam propagation direction (420) of a beam generation unit (400) with respect to the alignment axis (12) of an alignment device (10), - An alignment device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the cylindrical housing (20) has a different shape. １…ｎ The steps include providing an alignment device (10) in which ) are inserted into each other, - The step of mounting the beam generation unit (400) onto the alignment device (10), - The beam generation unit (400) and / or the cylindrical housing (20) until the beam propagation direction (420) is substantially aligned with the alignment axis (12) of the alignment device (10) １…ｎ The steps include rotating at least one of the ) around the alignment axis (12), A method for providing this.

15. - The largest cylindrical housing (20) of the alignment device (10) １ The steps include attaching the beam (410) generated by the beam generation unit (400) in the beam propagation direction (420) to the calibration target point of the calibration unit, Alignment angle greater than -0° (25 １…ｎ The cylindrical housing (20 １…ｎ The steps include: correcting the angular deviation in the propagation direction with respect to the alignment axis (12) by rotating at least one of the ) around the alignment axis (12); - Eccentric cavity axis (24 １…ｎ The cylindrical housing (20 １…ｎ The steps include correcting the coaxial misalignment in the propagation direction with respect to the alignment axis (12) by rotating at least one of the ) around the alignment axis (12), and / or, - In order to adjust the polarization direction of the beam (410), the largest cylindrical housing (20) of the alignment device (10) １ The steps include rotating the ) around the alignment axis (12), The method according to claim 14, further comprising:

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